57 Summer Wedding Ideas You'll Want to Steal

Sweet, sweet summertime! Whether you're marrying right at the start in late June, at the tail-end in late September, or smack dab in the middle of July or August, a summer wedding date affords you tons of opportunities to embrace the season on your big day. And that you should, because summer weddings are popular for a reason. No matter if you're using the sunny forecast to wed outdoors (beach celebration, anybody?), the warmer weather to wear your favorite accessories (sunglasses or a sun hat, perhaps?), or something else entirely, there are many aspects of the hottest months to love and we're here to help you incorporate them into your big day.

For the best summer wedding ideas, let this gallery be your inspiration guide. There are plenty of ways to sprinkle seasonal details into your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. That might mean capitalizing on a thematic wedding venue, like a seaside escape or summer camp. It could also mean adding seasonal fare to your menu. This couple served Nimble & Finn's ice cream cones at their event! It's also key to keep guests' comfort in mind—we've got plenty of tips for beating the heat, staving off mosquitos, and avoiding other summertime nuisances.

From décor suggestions to practical advice, this list has it all. So, before you plan your summer wedding, take a peek and get inspired. With these great ideas under your belt, your nuptials will feel like the ultimate summer vacation day to your celebrants.

The warmer weather puts everybody in a better mood. Embrace the joy of the season with one of the happiest décor elements out there: a colorful array of big balloons. Geronimo dreamt up this incredible display.

We recommend serving lighter libations for an extra-refreshing cocktail hour. A few floating petals in each glass—like those in these Weddings & Events by Emily drinks—are always a pretty touch. Alternatively, opt for frozen drinks!

Bring guests back to their childhood summers at the carnival with a fairground staple for celebrants to ride on (or just gawk at). This couple's Calamigos Ranch Ferris wheel certainly caught everyone's eye.

Portraits on the Harbor

Thanks to the perfect weather, this bridal party was able to take their wedding portraits outdoors on the Boston Harbor. The bridesmaids wore navy chiffon Amsale gowns from L'élite Bridal, and the bride wore an ivory tulle Monique Lhuillier gown with an embellished appliqué overlay of silk flowers and pearls.

This couple reserved the entire week's worth of crops from Eva's Garden, a local flower farm, and cut greenery from the bushes at the groom's family home. Honey Bee from Eva's Garden put together the bouquet using the garden's seasonal flowers, peonies, and greenery. The bride wanted her floral arrangements to feel loose and wild, "as if you'd grabbed a fistful of wildflowers and stuck them in a jar," she said.

Osyter Bar

Ceremony with a View

This ceremony location at Tehema Golf Club, which is owned by Clint Eastwood, came with stunning views of the Carmel Mountains. But to upgrade the summer wedding, Melody King of Fleurish Floral Designs decorated the ceremony site with pretty pink and white floral arrangements and green garlands, adding more gorgeous details to the jaw-dropping scene.

Wish Lanterns

These Wylie West Creative fans doubled as programs with one side featuring a list of events of the day, and the other side featuring a star map illustrating the exact view of the night sky the evening of the wedding.

Ceremony on the Water

The couple had a sunset ceremony along the water of the Boston Harbor, on ICA's Grandstand. The bride and groom shared handwritten vows and exchanged rings as the sun set on the harbot. "This is my favorite photo from the wedding," said the bride. "It sums up the ceremony so perfectly—the beautiful pink and blue sunset, the light illuminating us as a couple, and all of our guests so focused on the present."

Cold Soda

Cheese Spread

This couple set out a lavish cheese spread, along with breadsticks and fruit from the Cellars at Jasper Hill dairy farm in Greensboro Bend, Vermont, during their outdoor cocktail hour. There were nine types of cheese served, and the leftovers were frozen for the couple to enjoy later.

This couple's outdoor ceremony was made to look like an English garden, furnished with wrought iron chairs, a boxwood-lined aisle, and a sweet pea-covered arch from Diane Gaudett Custom Floral Designs.

Outdoor Dance Floor

These wedding guests were able to soak in the sunshine at this wedding with an outdoor dance floor.

Photography: Odalys Mendez

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Sunflower Bouquet

This bride carried a bright clutch from Amy Osaba Designs that featured bold yellow sunflowers, assorted greenery, and a few small white blooms. "We just love the outdoors," said the bride of her and her husband. "We included lots of branches and greenery over specific flowers."

Summer Menu

The dinner was held at Annadel Estate Winery's stone ruins, decorated with floral centerpieces and crimson taper candles, with quartz and gemstones scattered around the bases. Guests were served classic summer menu items like a salad of shaved fennel, wild arugula, watermelon radishes, roasted walnuts, orange segments, and barrel-aged red wine vinaigrette as well as grilled vegetables with Sicilian oregano-lemon vinaigrette. And for dessert, attendees enjoyed blood orange sorbet served with sparkling wine and biscotti.